Watchcase construction



Nov. 12, 1940.

'P. A. SCHWANKHAUS WATCHGASE CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 19, 1958 INVENTOR. .fi uz. 4 scum lv/ mqua ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFIQE WATCHCASE CONSTRUCTION Application August 19, 1938, Serial No. 225,790

15 Claims.

My invention has to do with the making of a type of watchcase which has a metallic base or cup member, and a cover member of transparent substance, such as glass or moulded product, and is without the usual bezel. An object of my invention is the provision of such a watch case. Another object of my invention is the provision of means whereby the cover member may'be held to the metallic base. Still another object of my invention is the provision of a new cooperation of base and cover member as will be set forth hereinafter. Still another object is the provision of a watchcase which has a peculiar delicacy of appearance and yet is strong and tight.

The principles of my invention, as will appear hereinafter, are applicable to watchcases of different design; and while I shall describe my inv vention in connection with two exemplary embod- 'imentsnamely a round case for a ladys wrist watch, and an elongated and more or less rectangular case for a gentlemans wrist watchit will be understood that my invention is not confined thereto.

The various objects of my invention which have been set forth above and others which will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading this specification, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts 'of which I shall now describe the aforesaid exemplary embodiments. Reference made to the drawing where:

Figure l is a plan or face view of a round M A watchcase.

* Fig. 2 is a side View thereof with certain parts shown in section.

Figure 3 is a plan or'face view of a generally rectangular watchcase.

Fig. l is an end view thereof with certain parts shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a side view thereof with certain parts shown in section.

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view taken at the end and showing an alternative arrangement of the clamping means.

Considering first Figures 1 and 2, I have here shown the metallic base as a cup-shaped member I of base or precious metal as desired. This is formed with an internal shoulder 2 on which a flange or rim 3 of the watch movement 4 rests.

The face or dial of the watch movement is indicated at 5. The cover member 6 is in the shape of an inverted cup with relatively heavy rim portions 6a. It is made of glass or other translucent substance such as one of the vinyl resins or other clear moulding composition. When made of glass it will usually be cast, and then ground and polished on the upper surface and also ground on the outer surface of the rim portion so as to give it an accurate fit in the base I. It may be polished here also if desired. The member 6 fits within the base member as shown; and the flange 3 on the movement is engaged and clamped tightly between the shoulder 2 on the base and the rim ta of the cover.

The base member is provided at each side with a pair of interspaced ears 1 and 8, which are the means for attachment of the wrist strap. Between each pair of ears i and B I place a metallic clamping means. 9 of resilient character, so shaped as to engage above the cover ii and below the base I. This serves to keep the cover and base in the proper relationship. The clamp member is held from sidewise displacement by the ears I and 8 as will be evident; and it is held from withdrawal between the ears by a split, resilient tube It which I insert in perforations in the ears. The tube, by reason of its resilience, has a tight engagement in the ears, and is not liable to accidental displacement. However, in the ladies type wrist watch, the round wrist strap l l is passed through the tube; and the two legs of the strap loop are held together by a clip 52. Thus the strap also acts to prevent dislodgement of the tubes.

The design is delicate, as will be seen. There is merely a thin rim of the base showing as the watch is viewed from the face; and the watch has a jewel-like appearance. Moreover the dial or face of the watch is larger for the outer diameter of the watchcase than is characteristic of usual designs. The relatively tiny clamps 9 actually add to the attractiveness of the design.

In Figures 3 to 6 I have indicated a generally rectangular case having a base member l3. Since the movement to be used in this case may not itself exactly follow the contour of the case I may, if desired, omit the shoulder in the base, and substitute a band or center M. This band may be so shaped as to conform to the movement on its inside surface and to the case on its outside surface. The flange I5 on the movement I5cr rests on the band M, and is clamped between this band and a rim I! on the cover it. This cover may again be of glass, resin or any suitable transparent or translucent substance which will permit the face and hands of the watch to be viewed. In this embodiment, I have illustrated a variant construction in which I have provided the cover 16 with a second rim l8 which covers the edge of the base as will be clear in the several figures.

In the rectangular watchcase, which is to be used with a broad flat strap, the ears l9 and 20 are located substantially at the corners of the watchcase, or in any event are relatively widely spaced. A wide clamp member 2| is therefore employed, but is otherwise like the clamp member described above. Because it is desirable to attach the wrist strap 25 to the watchcase by means of the usual pin 24 (which has spring pressed projections entering depressions in the ears as Well known in the art) I prefer to hold the clamp 2| in place by means of a snap con struction. To this end, I provide on the ears I9 and 20 minute protrusions or "snaps 22 and 23. In assembling the watch, the movement is placed in the base l3 so that it rests upon the rim I4. Then the cover I6 is put in place, and the clamp members forced into position. There is enough resilience in the metal parts to allow the clamp members to pass the protrusions 22 and 23; but these protrusions engage on the outside of the clamp members and prevent accidental dislodgement.

In instances where it is not desirable to have the ends of the clamp members project beyond the back of the case it will be within the purview of my invention as shown in Figure 6 to recess the back of the base member in either style of case as at 25 to accommodate the end of the clamp member and give a smooth back surface.

It will be clear that modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of it, and that my invention may be embodied in a wide variety of styles of watchcases.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a watchcase a metallic base member of cup-shape and a non-metallic translucent cover member having a portion shaped to fit within the cup and means for holding the cover and base member together comprising a resilient clip means having portions to engage the outer face of the cover and the outer face of the base.

2. In a watchcase the combination of a metallic base member of cup-shape with means providing an internal shoulder, a movement having a flange resting on said shoulder, a non-metallic traslucent cover member having a portion shaped to fit within said base and to engage and clamp said movement against said shoulder, and means for holding said elements in assembled relationship comprising spring clips having portions engaging the outer face of said cover and the outer face of said base.

3. A watchcase as claimed in claim 2 in which the outer periphery of the cover member is coterminous with the portion thereof which fits within said base so that when the watch is viewed from the front, a narrow rim of the base is seen beyond the periphery of the cover.

4. A watchcase construction as claimed in claim 2 in which the periphery of the cover member extends beyond the portion thereof which fits into said base so as to be co-terminous with the outer periphery of said base.

5. In a watchcase the combination of a metallic base member of cup-shape and a non-metallic translucent cover member having a portion shaped to fit within said base, interspaced pairs of ears at opposite sides of said base, clip members for holding said cover and said base in assembled relationship, said clip members being shaped to fit between ears of the pairs and having means for engaging the outer surface of said cover and the outer surface of said base, and means in connection with said ears for preventing dislodgment of said clips;

6. In a watchcase the combination of a metallic base member of cup-shape and a non-metallic translucent cover member having a portion shaped to fit within said base, interspaced pairs of ears at opposite sides of said base, clip members for holding said cover and said base in assembled relationship, said clip members being shaped to fit between ears of the pairs and having means for engaging the outer surface of said cover and the outer surface of said base, and means in connection with said ears for preventing clislodgment of said clips, said means comprising resilient means held in perforations in said ears and extending across the ears of a pair.

'7. In a watchcase the combination of a metallic base member of cup-shape and a non-metallic translucent cover member having a portion shaped to fit within said base, interspaced pairs of ears at opposite sides of said base, clip members for holding said cover and said base in assembled relationship, said clip members being shaped to fit between ears of the pairs and having means for engaging the outer surface of said cover and the outer surface of said base, and means in connection with said ears for preventing dislodgment of said clips, said means comprising resilient means held in perforations in said ears and exteding across the ears of a pair, said resilient means being tubular, and a looped type wrist watch strap having collars to define the loops, said loops extending through said tubular members so as to prevent axial movement of said resilient means.

8. In a watchcase the combination of a metallic base member of cup-shape and a non-metallic translucent cover member having a portion shaped to fit within said base, interspaced pairs of ears at opposite sides of said base, clip members for holding said cover and said base in assembled relationship, said clip members being shaped to fit between ears of the pairs and having means for engaging the outer surface of said cover and the outer surface of said base, and means in connection with said ears for preventing dislodgment of said clips, said means comprisig minute protuberances on opposed surfaces of said ears past which said clips must be forced into position, and means for attaching a wrist strap to the opposite pairs of said ears.

In a wrist watch a circular cup-shaped base member of metal having substantially oppositely disposed pairs of ears in slightly interspaced position, a cover member of translucent substance shaped to fit within said base, said base having an internal shoulder so that a movement having a flan e may be placed against said shoulder and clamped thereagainst by said cover, clip means of resilient metal having portions to engage the outer surface of said cover and the outer surface of said base located between the ears of respect ve pairs. and means extending from ear to ear clamped thereagainst by said cover, clip means of resilient metal having portions to engage the outer surface of said cover and the outer surface of said base located between the ears of respective pairs, and means extending from ear to ear of each pair for holding said clip means in position, said last mentioned means comprising resilient tubes held in perforations in said ears and having an internal bore of a size to accommodate a wrist strap.

11. In a Watch case the combination of a cupshaped base of metal having a smooth surface over the major portion of its rear face, and a nonmetallic translucent cover having a portion shaped to fit within said base, and interspaced clip means for holding said base and cover in assembled relationship and having portions to engage the outer surfaces of said base and cover, the rear face of saidbase member being recessed to accommodate the last mentioned portions of said clip means so as to provide a smooth surface over the entire rear face for said watch case.

12. In a Watch case the combination of a cupshaped base member of metal, a band shaped to coact with a Watch movement and located within said base, a cover member of non-metallic translucent substance having a portion shaped to fit within said base and clamp a movement against said band, and clip means for holding said parts in assembled relationship having portions engaging the outer surfaces of said cover and base members.

13. In a Watch case the combination of a cupshaped base member of metal, a band shaped to coact with a watch movement and located Within said base, a cover member of non-metallic translucent substance having a portion shaped to fit Within said base and clamp a movement against said band, and clip means for holding said parts in assembled, relationship having portions engaging the outer surfaces of said cover and base members, said base member having pairs of interspaced ears and said clip members being located between the ears of said pairs.

14. In a watch case the combination of a cupshaped base member of metal, a band shaped to coact with a Watch movement and located Within said base, a cover member of nonmetallic translucent substance having a portion shaped to fit within said base and clamp a movement against said band, and clip means for holding said parts in assembled relationship having portions engaging the outer surfaces of said cover and base members, said base member having pairs of interspaced ears and said clip members being located between the ears of said pairs, and means in connection with said ears for preventing displacement of said clips.

15. In a watch case the combination of a cupshaped base member of metal, a band shaped to coact with a watch movement and located within said base, a cover member of non-metallic translucent substance having a portion shaped to fit within said base and clamp a movement against said band, and clip means for holding said parts in assembled relationship having portions engaging the outer surfaces of said cover and base members, said base member having pairs of interspaced ears and said clip members being located between the ears of said pairs, and means in connection with said ears for preventing displacement of said clips, said means comprising protrusions on opposed surfaces of said ears past which said clips must be forced into position.

PAUL A. SCHWANKI-IAUS. 

